System, method and monument for land surveying

ABSTRACT

A monument usable for locating stationary geographical positions and/or assets includes a housing, comprising a body and a cap; at least one permanent magnet mounted on or in the housing; and at least one electronic marker located on or in the housing. The magnet has a magnetic field of sufficient strength for its location to be readily identified from outside the housing using a portable magnetic locator and the electronic marker includes an electronic transceiver for receiving and/or transmitting electronic information unique to the geographical location and/or functional properties of the monument or an asset associated with the monument.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority as a continuation application to U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/784,918 filed May 21, 2010, which claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/180,562 filed May 22,2009, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/224,297 filed Jul. 9,2009, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is related to systems, methods and structures usable insurveying or geographic information sciences.

2. Related Art

Surveyors have been using monuments to at least semi-permanently markgeographic positions for many years. Traditional survey monuments havebeen made of granite, concrete, wood and/or metal. Traditional surveymonuments may include a large permanent magnet. The large permanentmagnet allows a surveyor to locate the monument using a magneticlocator, such as those available from Schonstedt Instrument Company ofKearneysville, W. Va.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

While traditional survey monuments are useful for marking a physicallocation, they typically are not useful for storing or providing anyfurther information. For example, while the survey monument may beadorned with various text and/or insignia that can identify the monumentand/or the surveyor who placed the monument, this information may not beavailable without removing the monument from the ground and/ordisplacing the soil around the monument. Not only can this be difficultand time consuming, it also presents a possibility of the monument beingmoved and/or loosened from its position and/or orientation. Likewise,simple engraved information (e.g., text, insignia, etc), can be forgedwith simple engraving tools and thus may not be reliably accurate.

Further, it can be difficult to identify one survey monument fromanother, or even from other metallic and/or ferrous objects. Forexample, metal conduits, unexploded ordinance, buried metal (e.g.,rebar) and other objects that are often buried under ground, can presentdifficulty when trying to locate a survey monument. If such objects areburied near a survey monument and exhibit a magnetic field, they may beconfused for the survey monument when attempting to locate the monumentwith a magnetic locator. As such, a surveyor, or any other individualattempting to locate the monument for the purpose of geographicreference, may be mislead to believe that the survey monument is locatedin a different place than it actually is.

Misidentifying a desired monument (e.g., erroneously locating the wrongmonument or erroneously identifying a non-monument, ferrous object asthe desired monument), can result in various safety, legal and/or otherproblems. If, for example, an individual attempts to locate a monumentas a point of reference for determining safe and/or unsafe digginglocations, a misidentified monument may result in an unsafe locationbeing deemed safe and vice-versa. Likewise, a misidentified monument mayresult in a landowner miscalculating a boundary line of a property.

Additionally, as outlined above, traditional survey monuments generallyinclude simple engraved markings and/or insignia, if they include anymarkings at all. These traditional markings and/or insignia may not beuseful for updating any information associated with the survey monumentand/or may be limited in the amount or the type of information that canbe shown. For example, traditional survey monuments may be engraved witha serial number and/or a name or insignia of the individual ororganization that placed the survey monument. This information alone mayhave only limited usability and may not be readily accessible if thesurvey monument is buried below ground.

In various exemplary embodiments, a survey monument according to thisinvention can be readily identified in relation to other surveymonuments and/or nearby ferrous objects. In various exemplaryembodiments, the survey monument can be readily identified withoutrequiring a line of sight between the user and the survey monument. Invarious exemplary embodiments, the survey monument can be uniquelyidentified.

In various exemplary embodiments, the survey monument is usable to atleast help store information about the survey monument and/or a locationaround the survey monument. In various ones of these exemplaryembodiments, the information includes an identification number thatcorrelates to one or more data entries in one or more databases.

In various exemplary embodiments, the survey monument has a main bodythat is primarily metal. In various ones of these exemplary embodiments,at least a portion of the main body is permeable to RF signals within adesired range of wavelengths.

In various exemplary embodiments of a survey system according to thisinvention, the survey system includes a survey monument, an electronicreader and a server. In various exemplary embodiments, the serverincludes a database that stores information associated with one or moresurvey monuments.

In various exemplary embodiments of a survey system according to thisinvention, the survey system includes one or more survey monuments, eachhaving one or more electronic tags, a reader usable to read the one ormore electronic tags of the one or more survey monuments and a serverthat includes a database usable to store information associated with atleast one of the one or more survey monuments. In various exemplaryembodiments, a user uses the reader to identify a survey monument todetermine if it is a desired survey monument. In various exemplaryembodiments, the reader may then send identifying information of theidentified survey monument to the server. In return, the server may sendat least some of the information associated with the identified surveymonument to the reader to display to the user.

In various exemplary embodiments, the reader may interact with theelectronic tag and/or the server with a two-way communication stream.For example, the reader may send information (e.g., data queries) andreceive information back from the electronic tag or server (e.g.,alphanumeric data responses). Additionally, the reader may include atransceiver for interacting with the electronic tag and a separateprocessor for processing the data received from the electronic tagand/or server. The transceiver and the processor may be connected viasuitable known or later-developed wired or wireless communication bus orprotocol.

These and other features and advantages of various exemplary embodimentsof systems and methods according to this invention are described in, orare apparent from, the following detailed descriptions of variousexemplary embodiments of various devices, structures and/or methodsaccording to this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods according tothis invention will be described in detail, with reference to thefollowing figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a series of perspective views of survey monuments according toexemplary embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a side plan view of an exemplary monument fitted with anelectronic tag according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the monument shown in FIG. 2with the collar 230 positioned to expose an electronic tag;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the monument shown in FIG. 3 with the capremoved;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an exemplary monument fitted with anelectronic tag according to a second exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a perspective partially exploded view of the monument shown inFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an assembled side plan view of the monument shown in FIGS. 5and 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a monument with an upgrade sleeveaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an upgrade kit according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of a system, which includes anexemplary monument, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of amonument fitted with an electronic tag according to any suitableembodiment;

FIGS. 12-14 are a series of top cross-sectional views of monuments, suchas the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is a side cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of amonument fitted with electronic tags according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 16 is a side cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of amonument fitted with an electronic tag according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 17 is a side cross-sectional view of the monument shown in FIG. 16fitted with electronic tags according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the monument shown in FIG. 17 with the capremoved;

FIG. 19 is a side cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of amonument fitted with an electronic tag according to an exemplaryembodiment; and

FIG. 20 is a side cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of amonument including an electronic tag according to an exemplaryembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The following description relates to monuments usable as geographicmarkers (e.g., to mark the location of an asset). Generally, themonuments are provided at a substantially fixed location and can beused, for example, as reference points for determining other locations.It should be appreciated that, although some of the below-outlinedembodiments are directed toward survey monuments and particular uses ofsurvey monuments, the disclosed invention is usable with any object thathas at least a substantially fixed, known location. For example, invarious exemplary embodiments, instead of or in addition to using surveymonuments, the disclosed invention may function as a monument toidentify a bridge, a building, a portion of a rail road or a signpost.It should also be appreciated that the fixed location of the monumentmay be relative to a moving object (e.g., a monument may be provided fordetermining the settling of a structure or land). Likewise, thedisclosed monuments may be utilized to identify the locations,specifications or other data relating to buried transformers, cables,conduits and the like.

As outlined above, traditional survey monuments can be difficult tolocate and/or difficult to identify. Traditional survey monuments aretypically identified using a magnetic locator. The magnetic locatoremits an audible signal related to the strength of a magnetic field inthe area of the locator. A surveyor can thus identify a magnetic objectbelow the ground based on the signal emitted by the locator. However,survey monuments may not be the only buried objects in the area thatexhibit a magnetic field. Generally, there is no simple way ofidentifying whether a specific object is a survey monument, as opposedto, for example, a buried cable, a buried conduit, a buried unexplodedordinance, or other buried ferrous objects.

In various exemplary embodiments of a monument according to thisinvention, the monument includes an electronic marker (e.g., an RFIDtag), which may be utilized to help identify the monument. Suchidentification may be related to identifying the monument as a surveymonument (as opposed to, for example, some other buried ferrous object)or identifying a specific monument (as opposed to any other monument).

In various exemplary embodiments, the electronic tag or marker is anRFID tag and includes an RFID transceiver and an antenna. In variousexemplary embodiments, the RFID tag is a passive RFID tag and does notrequire a separate power source. In various exemplary embodiments, theRFID tag is an active RFID tag and includes its own power source (e.g.,a battery, a photovoltaic cell, etc.). Such active RFID tags may beparticularly useful for penetrating metal or other RF-resistantmaterials provided on or around the RFID tag.

The RFID tag may respond to a radio frequency (RF) signal (e.g., aseries of radio frequency pulses) transmitted from an RFID reader. Inresponse to the RF signal, the RFID tag may transmit an RF signal backto the reader. The RF signal transmitted by the RFID tag may include anyinformation stored on the RFID tag. For example, the RF signal mayinclude an identification number that identifies the specific RFID tag,and thus the specific monument or other asset associated with that RFIDtag (e.g., a permanently locked alphanumeric number of a standardlength), a geographic position of the RFID tag and/or the survey marker(e.g., GPS coordinates, latitude and longitude readings, Public LandSurvey System (PLSS) coordinates, etc.), information about the date themonument was placed and/or updated, who placed the monument, who lastupdated the information associated with the monument and/or any otherdesired information. Additionally, the RFID tag may be able to receiveinformation from the RFID reader and encode that information into amemory of the RFID tag.

FIG. 1 shows a series of perspective views of exemplary surveymonuments. As shown in FIG. 1, the survey monuments may include, forexample, a drivable monument 102 (e.g., a survey monument that has ahousing of a form (e.g., shape) that is particularly useful for drivinginto the ground using any known or later-developed methods and toolsusable by a person having ordinary skill in the art); an anchoredmonument 104, which may have a housing that includes one or more flaredflanges 105; a breakaway monument 106, which may have a housing thatincludes a portion 107 that may break away from the rest of the housingif the monument is forcibly removed from the ground or otherwisedisturbed from its location; a low profile monument 108; a disc-shapedmonument; and/or any other known or later-developed types and/or shapesof monuments usable for surveying, asset management and/or geographicsciences. Additionally, objects that are not traditionally identified asmonuments may be utilized. In general, the monument may be any objectthat maintains a substantially fixed geographic location (relative tothe earth or any other desired reference point) and is subsequentlydesirably located and/or identified.

FIGS. 2-4 show a series of views of a portion of a monument 200 (e.g., adrivable monument generally similar to survey monuments 102, 104 and 106shown in FIG. 1) fitted with an electronic tag 300 according to anexemplary embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the monument 200 comprises ahousing 205 having a generally tube-shaped body or body portion 210 anda cap 220. In various exemplary embodiments, the tube-shaped portion 210is a hollow, metal cylinder or pole with an internal void 212 (as shownin FIG. 4). The monument 200 also includes a cover 230. As shown in FIG.4, in various exemplary embodiments, one or more slots 216 are providedin the tube-shaped portion 210 of the monument 200. It should beappreciated that the slots 216 may be created during the formation ofthe tube-shaped portion 210, cut out of the tube-shaped portion 210 atsome later time, and/or provided in any other known or later-developedmanner.

As shown in FIG. 3, the monument 200 includes a magnet 222, which may besupported, incorporated into or otherwise associated with the cap 220.As outlined above, the magnet 222 is usable to help locate the monument200 using any known or later-developed equipment and/or method forlocating magnetic objects (e.g., buried survey monuments). Theelectronic tag 300 (e.g. an RFID tag) is provided in the internal void212 of the tube-shaped portion 210. In an exemplary embodiment, theelectronic tag 300 includes a metal backing plate or bracket 310. Asshown in FIGS. 3 and 4, one or more rivets, bolts, screws or the likemay be provided that extend between two of the one or more slots 216 andthrough the electronic tag 300 and/or bracket 310 to secure theelectronic tag 300 and/or bracket to the housing 205 (e.g., to thetube-shaped portion 210) of the monument 200. It should be appreciatedthat any known or later-developed fastener, adhesive, or the like may beused to secure the electronic tag 300 to the bracket 310 and /or thehousing 205 of the monument 200. For the purposes of this application,all such fasteners, adhesives or the like will be considered part of thehousing of the monuments.

FIG. 5 shows a top view (with the cap 220 removed) of a second exemplarymethod for securing the electronic tag 300 to the housing 205 of themonument 200 (e.g., to the tube-shaped portion 210). As shown in FIG. 5,the electronic tag 300 may be glued or otherwise secured to one or moreof the slots 216 of the tube-shaped portion 210 of the monument 200. Itshould be appreciated that the electronic tag 300 may be any suitablesize or shape. Likewise, two or more electronic tags may be provided inthe one or more slots 216. It should also be appreciated that the slots216 may act as wave guides to promote the penetration of signals (e.g.,RF signals to and/or from the electronic tag 300).

In various exemplary embodiments, the electronic tag 300 may bepositioned such that it is flush to an external surface of thetube-shaped portion 210 and/or other portions of the housing 205 of themonument 200. It should be appreciated that it may be desirable for theelectronic tag 300 to be flush with the external surface of thetube-shaped portion 210 to permit the electronic tag 300, or an antennaof the electronic tag 300, to be optimally exposed to external RF orother electronic signals.

FIG. 6 shows a partially exploded, perspective view of a portion of themonument shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 shows a side plan view of a portion ofthe monument shown in FIG. 5 (after assembly). As shown in FIG. 6, a cap220 (e.g., a conventional brass cap similar to those used on traditionalsurvey monuments) may be placed over the end of the tube-shaped portion210 of the monument 200 and may cover at least a portion of the one ormore slots 216. It should be appreciated that, in various exemplaryembodiments, at least a portion of the electronic tags 300 will bevisible below the bottom of the cap 220, such that at least an antennaof the electronic tag 300 is exposed through the slot 216.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in various exemplary embodiments, a cover 230is provided over the outer surface of a portion of the housing 205(e.g., around the tube-shaped portion 210) of the monument 200. As shownin FIG. 7, the cover 230 may separate the one or more slots 216 from theexternal environment. In various exemplary embodiments, the cover 230helps provide a hermetic seal that protects the electronic tag 300 fromthe conditions of the external environment (e.g., moisture). It shouldbe appreciated that the cover 230 is generally made of an RF permeablematerial (e.g., a material that allows RF waves of a desired wavelengthto pass through the material). In this manner, the electronic tag 300may be sealed from the external environment, yet accessible forcommunication with electronic equipment using RF waves of a desiredwavelength.

It should be appreciated that the cover 230 may be a single piece (e.g.,a sleeve around the tube shaped portion 210) or may be comprised of oneor more portions (e.g., the portions 230 and 232 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7)that interconnect to separate the one or more slots 216 from theexternal environment. Likewise, it should be appreciated that multiplecovers may be provided to separate any one or more of the one or moreslots 216 from the external environment.

FIG. 8 shows an exemplary embodiment of a monument 200 (e.g., ananchored monument similar to the anchored survey monument 104 shown inFIG. 1) with an upgrade sleeve 400. The upgrade sleeve 400 is usable toattach an electronic tag (not shown) to a housing 205 of a pre-existingmonument 200. It should be appreciated that the monument 200 may be anyof the herein-outlined or other known or later-developed exemplaryembodiments of monuments. It should also be appreciated that theelectronic tag may be incorporated into a portion of the upgrade sleeve400 and/or secured between the upgrade sleeve 400 and the monument 200.For example, the electronic tag may be provided on the outer surface ofthe housing 205 of the monument 200 and the upgrade sleeve 400 providedover the electronic tag. As such, the upgrade sleeve 400 helps to attachthe electronic tag to the housing 205 of the monument 200 (e.g., to atube-shaped portion 210 of the monument 200) and/or to protect theelectronic tag without requiring significant structural changes to themonument 200. It should be appreciated that the upgrade sleeve 400 maybe shaped or adapted to conform to the outer surface of any portion ofthe housing 205 of the monument 200.

FIG. 9 shows an exemplary embodiment of the upgrade sleeve 400. Theexemplary upgrade sleeve 400 includes one or more portions 410 and oneor more ties 420. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 9, theportions 410 can be combined to provide a cylindrical collar that fitsaround the housing 205 (e.g., the tube-shaped portion 210 or an outersurface) of the monument 200, as shown in FIG. 8. The one or more ties420 are usable to secure the portions 410 together around the monument200. It should be appreciated that the ties 420 may be replaced with anyappropriate known or later-developed material, apparatus or method thatis usable to connect the portions 410 of the upgrade sleeve 400 together(e.g., in a ring around the monument 200). For example, the ties 420 maybe replaced with screws, nuts, bolts, glue, epoxy, sonic welding, atongue and groove style connection and/or any other material, apparatusor method usable to connect the portions 410 together. Likewise, theupgrade sleeve 400 may be a single cylindrical-shaped sleeve that fitsaround, and secures to, the housing 205 of the monument 200. Once sosecured, for the purposes of this application, the upgrade sleeve 400becomes a portion of the housing 205. It should be appreciated that, invarious exemplary embodiments, the upgrade sleeve 400 may not encircleor surround the monument 200. In various exemplary embodiments, theupgrade sleeve 400 may be attached to one side of the monument 200 andmay include a U-bolt, clamp or the like that secures and incorporatesthe upgrade sleeve 400 as part of the housing 205 of the monument 200.

FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of a location system 800. As shown in FIG.10, the location system 800 includes at least one monument 810, whichmay be any of the herein-disclosed monuments and/or any other known orlater developed suitable monuments. The monument 810 is placed in adesired location which is to be later located and/or identified (e.g.,buried at the location of an asset, attached to an asset, buried at adesired reference point, etc.). In general, the monument 810 is usableto mark a location and/or an object (e.g., by being buried at a desiredlocation, attached to a desired object, or embedded in a desiredstructure). The monument 810 includes a magnet 812 and an electronic tag814. In various exemplary embodiments at least one of the magnet 812 andthe electronic tag 814 is attached to a housing of the monument 810. Invarious exemplary embodiments at least one of the magnet 812 and theelectronic tag 814 is contained within the interior of the housing ofthe monument 810.

A magnetic locator 820 is usable to perceive (e.g., detect or measure) amagnetic field 822 emitted by the magnet 812. As outlined above, byperceiving the magnetic field 822 of the magnet 812, the magneticlocator 820 may be used to locate the monument 810 even if the monument810 is not visible (e.g., as when the monument 810 is buried belowground). In various exemplary embodiments, the magnetic locator 820 canbe used to quickly determine a location where the emitted magnetic field822 is at its maximum and which relates to a location of the monument810 (e.g., the magnetic field 822 will generally be larger when themagnetic locator 820 is closer to the monument 810 and thus will reach amaximum when placed directly above a buried monument 810).

An electronic transceiver 830 is usable to send and receive electronicsignals 832 to and from the electronic tag 814. In various exemplaryembodiments, the electronic tag 814 is an RFID tag and the electronictransceiver is an RFID reader. In such exemplary embodiments, the RFIDreader sends a signal (e.g., a series of pulses) to the RFID tag and theRFID tag responds with a signal. It should be appreciated that the RFIDtag may be a passive RFID tag (e.g., powered by the signal sent from theRFID reader) or an active RFID tag (e.g., an RFID tag that includes itsown power supply).

The electronic transceiver 830 is in communication with a handheldcomputer 840. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the electronictransceiver is connected to the handheld computer 840 via a wiredconnection 834. However, it should be appreciated that in various otherexemplary embodiments the electronic transceiver 830 may be wirelesslyconnected to the handheld computer 840, while in still other exemplaryembodiments, the electronic transceiver 830 and the handheld computer840 are the same device or elements of the same device (e.g., thehandheld computer 840 may include the electronic transceiver 830).

The handheld computer 840 is in communication with a server 850. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 10, the handheld computer utilizes wirelesslink 842 to communicate with the server 842. It should be appreciatedthat the wireless link 842 may be any known or later-developed wirelesscommunication link (e.g., a cellular data network, a Bluetoothconnection, etc.). Likewise, the wireless link 842 may be replaced witha wired connection such as, for example, an RS-232 serial connection, anI2E serial connection, and/or any other known or later developedconnection suitable for providing communication between the handheldcomputer 840 and the server 850. Additionally, it should be appreciatedthat the server 850 may be combined with the handheld computer 840 in asingle device. That is, rather than a traditional external server, thehandheld computer 840 may utilize internal memory, processing, datastorage and the like to perform the functions of a server 850.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the server 850 includes adatabase 852. The database 852 may be usable to store information viaany known or later-developed architecture. In various exemplaryembodiments, the database 852 will store information that relates to oneor more monuments 810 that can be located with the magnetic locator 820and communicated with via the electronic transceiver 830. In variousexemplary embodiments, a unique identification number is stored on theelectronic tag 814 of one or more monument 810. In such exemplaryembodiments, the unique identification number may be usable to queryrelevant information stored in the database 852 of the server 850. Forexample, in various exemplary embodiments, the database 852 may containinformation about the service history of several monuments 810 includinga unique identification number for each monument 810. In such exemplaryembodiments, when the electronic transceiver 830 receives the uniqueidentification number from the electronic tag 814 of a particularmonument 810, the handheld computer 840 may be used to query the servicehistory of that particular monument 810 by sending the uniqueidentification number of the particular monument 810 to the server 850.

In an exemplary method of using the location system 800, a user probes adesired area (e.g., an area with one or more buried monuments 810) withthe magnetic locator 820 until the magnetic locator 820 registers amaximum of a magnetic field (e.g., when the magnetic locator is directlyabove a buried monument 810). The user then utilizes the electronictransceiver 830 to confirm the identity and send a signal to theelectronic tag 814 of the located monument 814). The electronic tag 814responds with a signal that relates to desired information about thelocated monument 814 (e.g., a unique identification number). In turn,the handheld computer 840 communicates with the server 850 to retrieverelevant information about the located monument 814.

It should be appreciated that any desired information may be stored onthe server 850 and/or in the database 852. For example, the server 850and/or the database 852 may store information related to a servicehistory (e.g., install date, maintenance records, projectedremoval/replacement date, etc.) of the monument 810 and/or an objectrelated to the monument 810. Likewise, the server 850 and/or thedatabase 852 may store information about the location of the monument810 and/or an object associated with the monument 810. For example, inan exemplary embodiment, the monument 810 may be attached to, orotherwise associated with, a bend, junction, valve, or the like providedin a buried pipe, conduit, or the like. In such exemplary embodiments, aservice technician may be able to locate the bend, junction, valve orthe like by utilizing the magnetic locator 820 to locate the monument810 as outlined above. The service technician may then verify that thecorrect bend, junction, valve, or the like has been found by sending andreceiving a signal to and from the electronic tag 814 using theelectronic transceiver 830 in order to determine an identificationnumber of the located bend, junction, valve or the like. The servicetechnician may then query the server 850 and/or database 852 using theidentification number to determine a service history of the bend,junction, valve or the like. Likewise, the service technician may sendinformation related to the bend, junction, valve or the like to bestored on the server 850 and/or database 852. For example, the servicetechnician may send the date, time and results of an inspection of thebend, junction, valve or the like to be stored in the server 850 and ordatabase 852 to be accessible by later users inspecting the bend,junction, valve, or the like.

FIG. 11 shows another exemplary embodiment of the monument 200. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 11, the housing 205 of the monument 200includes one or more holes 216 (e.g., in the pole-shaped portion 210 ofthe body 205). In various exemplary embodiments, the holes 216 allow RFsignals to penetrate the monument 200. In this way, if an electronic tagis placed in the internal void of the monument 200, the RF signals willbe able to reach the antenna of the electronic tag.

It should be appreciated that the monument 200 may include any number ofslots or holes 216. FIGS. 12-14 show an exemplary embodiment includingfour holes 216. It should be appreciated that the shape and/or size ofthe slots or holes 216 may be chosen such that the slots or holes 216act as waveguides and direct RF signals of a desired wavelength into theinterior void of the monument 200. As such, if an electronic tag isplaced in the interior void of the monument 200, the RF signals will beable to reach an antenna of the electronic tag. As shown in FIG. 11, acap 220 may be provided over at least a portion of the tube-shapedportion 210 of the monument 200. It should be appreciated that, invarious exemplary embodiments, the cap 220 may extend over at least aportion of one or more of the slots or holes 216. In various exemplaryembodiments, at least a portion of the cap 220 is RF permeable andallows RF signals of a desired wavelength to pass through the cap 220and the holes 216 and into the interior void of the monument 200.

FIGS. 12-14 show a series of cross-section views of monuments, such asthe exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 2-7 and/or 11. An electronictag 300 is shown in the internal void of the tube-shaped portion 210 ofthe monument 200. It should be appreciated that the electronic tag 300may be attached to the housing of the monument (e.g., to the tube-shapedportion 210) according to any of the above-outlined or other exemplaryembodiments. As shown in FIG. 12, the shape of the slots or holes 216may include approximately parallel walls, such that an internal width ofa given slot or hole 216 is approximately the same as an external widthof that slot or hole 216. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 13, the slotsor holes 216 may include divergent walls, such that the external widthof a given slot or hole 216 is smaller than the internal width of thatslot or hole 216. As shown in FIG. 17, in yet another alternativeembodiment, the slots or holes 216 may include convergent walls, suchthat the external width of a given slot or hole 216 is larger than theinternal width of that slot or hole 216.

FIG. 15 shows a partial cross-section of an exemplary breakaway monument500. As shown in FIG. 15, the breakaway monument 500 has a housing 505that includes a seated body portion 510, a neck 520 and a head 530. Inuse, the breakaway monument 500 may be buried in the ground such thatthe seated body portion 510 is securely embedded in the ground. If thebreakaway monument 500 is disturbed (e.g., pulled out of the ground,pushed horizontally, etc.), the breakaway monument 500 may break at itsneck portion 520 such that the head 530 of the breakaway monument 500follows the disturbance while the seated body portion 510 remains inplace. It should be appreciated that a tube-shaped portion (e.g., theabove-outlined tube-shaped portion 210) may be provided between theupwardly opening portion 540 of the neck 520 and the head 530 of thebreakaway monument (e.g., as in the breakaway survey monument 106 shownin FIG. 1).

The seated body portion 510 of the housing 505 of the breakaway monument500 includes a base plate 512 and one or more wings 514. The base plate512 and/or wings 514 may help secure the seated body portion 510 of thebreakaway monument 500 within the ground when the breakaway monument 500is buried. An electronic tag 300 is secured to the base plate 514 of thehousing 505 of the breakaway monument 500. In the event that thebreakaway monument 500 is disturbed such that the breakaway monument 500breaks leaving only the seated body portion 510 behind, the electronictag 300 may continue to provide the desired information relative to thebreakaway monument 500 and/or the environment around the breakawaymonument 500. A metal backing plate 320 is provided beneath theelectronic tag 300. In various exemplary embodiments, the backing plate320 helps improve reception and/or transmission of electronic signals bythe electronic tag 300. In various exemplary embodiments, the backingplate 320 reflects some of the RF signals that pass past the electronictag 300 back toward the electronic tag 300. Additionally, a magnet 516is provided in the seated body portion 510 of the housing 505 of thebreakaway monument 500. The magnet 516 may help locate the seated bodyportion 510 of the breakaway monument 500 after the monument or theoverlying soil has been disturbed according to the above-outlinedprocess.

The head portion 530 of the housing 505 of the breakaway monument 500includes a cap 534 that separates an internal void of the monument 500from the external environment. The head 530 of the breakaway monument500 may also include a magnet 532 and/or an electronic tag 300.

FIGS. 16-19 show exemplary embodiments of low profile monuments. Asshown in FIGS. 16 and 17, an exemplary low profile monument 600 has ahousing 605 that includes a cap 610 and a base plate body 620. The lowprofile monument 600 also includes a magnet 630 located within thehousing 605 of the low profile monument 600. In various exemplaryembodiments the base plate body 620 may include one or more holes 622.The holes 622 may help secure the low profile monument 600 to buriedconduits, cables, pipes or any other known or later-developed objectthat may be desirably located. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG.16, the base plate body 620 also includes one or more projections 624(e.g., a nail, spike, or the like). The one or more projection 624 maybe useful for securing the low profile monument 600 to a desirablylocated object. As shown in FIG. 16, an electronic tag 300 and a metalbacking plate 320 are attached to the cap 610 of the housing 605 of thelow profile monument 600. As outlined above, the metal backing plate 320may help improve the reception and or transmission of electronic signalsto and/or from the electronic tag 300. It should be appreciated that theelectronic tag 300 and/or the backing plate 320 may be secured to thecap 610 in any suitable known or later-developed way. In variousexemplary embodiments, the electronic tag 300 is secured to the backingplate 320 (e.g., using one or more rivets, epoxy, adhesive, or the like)and the backing plate 320 and/or the electronic tag 300 is secured tothe cap 610 (e.g., with adhesive or the like).

As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, one or more electronic tags 300 and/or ametal backing plate 320 may be secured to the base plate body 620 of thehousing 605 of the low profile monument 600 in addition to or instead ofbeing secured to the cap 610. It should be appreciated that the one ormore electronic tags 300 may be attached to the housing 605 of the lowprofile monument 600 by securing the one or more tags 300 to a backingplate 320 (e.g., an aluminum or stainless steel washer) and thensecuring the backing plate 320 to the base plate body 620. It should beappreciated that while the one or more electronic tags 300 are shown inFIGS. 16 and 17 on either side the magnet 630 (with the magnet 630 beingcentrally located on the base plate 620), in various exemplaryembodiments, the magnet 630 may be offset to one side of the base plate620 and backing plate 320, and the one or more electronic tags 300 maybe offset to the middle or an opposite side of the backing plate 620.The magnet pocket in the base plate body 620 and the magnet opening inthe backing plate 320 would be likewise offset to whatever position isdesired for the magnet 630.

FIG. 19 shows another exemplary embodiment of a low profile monument700. As shown in FIG. 19, the low profile monument has a housing 705that includes a metal backing plate 320 and a cap 710. The low profilemonument 700 also includes a magnet 720 and an electronic tag 300secured to the housing 705 of the low profile monument 700. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 19, the electronic tag 300 is secured to themetal backing plate 320 and/or the cap 710 of the low profile monument700 and is provided within the housing 705 of the low profile monument700, while the magnet 620 is secured to the backing plate 320 andprovided outside of the housing 705 of the low profile monument 700. Thelow profile monument 700 may be particularly useful as a survey monumentwhich can be buried in the concrete or asphalt of a highway or parkinglot extending over a unique geographical point, such as a sectioncorner, where it can be quickly located by use of a magnetic locator andidentified and updated without breaking up and excavating the concreteor asphalt overlay by sending an electronic signal to the electronic tagof the monument and reading and updating the information on the tag.

FIG. 20 shows another exemplary embodiment of a monument 200 comprisingan electronic tag 300 having an outer body portion 302 which comprises aportion of a housing 205 of the monument 200. As shown in FIG. 20, areflector plate 320 is secured to the lower surface of the housing 205.A cap 226 is attached to the housing 205 and a magnet 224 is providedwithin the cap 226. In various exemplary embodiments, the magnet 224 isalso attached to the body portion 302 of the housing 305 of theelectronic tag 300.

In various exemplary embodiments, each of the above outlined electronictags (e.g., the electronic tag 300) includes a memory that stores anidentification number of that electronic tag. In various exemplaryembodiments, the identification numbers of each RFID tag are associatedwith information stored in a database. The database may includeinformation about the tag and/or the geographical location around thetag. For example, the database may include information about land rights(e.g., boundaries of ownership), global positioning system coordinatesof the monument, other known buried objects in the area (including otherferrous objects), information regarding previous inspections of the areaand/or any other known or later-developed information.

In various exemplary embodiments, some or all of the information storedon the electronic tags is electronically locked (e.g., permanently orvia one or more security protocols) to, for example, reduce or preventcounterfeiting and/or tampering.

Additionally, the identification number of the electronic tag can beused to verify that an individual visited the site. For example, thereader used by a surveyor may keep records of recently read monuments toverify that the surveyor in fact actually visited the location of thesurveying monuments. Likewise, individuals that are required to patrolvarious locations (e.g., border patrol, security guards, etc.) may carrya portable or vehicle-mounted reader that locates and automaticallyinteracts with asset monuments in the vicinity of the individual andstores information obtained from those monuments. After completing therequired patrol route, the identification numbers or other informationcan be used to verify that the individual traveled through the requiredarea.

In various exemplary embodiments, the reader is connected (e.g., viawired or wireless network, such as, for example, over a cellularnetwork, a Wi-Fi network, wireless internet connection or the like) to aserver that includes the database. In various exemplary embodiments, thereader can display information received from the server and related toan electronic tag read by the reader.

In one exemplary embodiment of a method for interacting with a surveymonument that includes an electronic tag, a surveyor locates the generallocation of a survey monument using, for example, a land survey map. Thesurveyor may then quickly locate and identify the survey monument usinga magnetic locator aimed in the general location of the survey monument.He may then confirm the identity of the monument by sending anelectronic signal to the monument using an RFID transceiver (RFIDreader). The RFID reader may then display useful information to thesurveyor, such as, for example, the type of survey monument, thelocation of the monument, as identified by a global navigation satellitesystem (e.g., GPS, Galileo, etc.), the location and type of other knownobjects (ferrous and/or otherwise) in the area, such as objects that mayinterfere with a magnetic locator, land rights, property boundary lines,easement boundaries and the like for the area and/or any other known orlater-developed types of information desirably related to or associatedwith the location of the survey monument.

The surveyor may then take any appropriate action as dictated by theinformation received from the server, may update information on theserver in response to observed or otherwise known changes in the areaassociated with the surveying monument and/or may update informationstored on the electronic tag of the surveying monument.

In other exemplary methods for interacting with a located monument thatincludes an electronic tag, such interaction may be related to, forexample, inspection, record keeping and/or verification of site visits.For example, that interaction may be related to bridge inspections,tunnel inspections, rail inspections, dam monitoring, telephone pedestalmonitoring, gas transmission monitoring, elevator maintenance, trafficlight maintenance, highway sign record keeping, forestry record keeping,commodity record keeping (e.g., crops, petroleum, natural gas, mineralexploration, etc.), HVAC servicing, parks and recreation site visits andthe like.

Likewise, any service, technology or industry that can utilizelocation-based information may utilize variants of the above outlinedsurveying systems. In various exemplary embodiments, the informationstored in the database may be related to other city-planning, civilengineering and/or geographic management services. For example, businessmodels may utilize location-based markers to identify local communityneeds and services in relation to population.

Further, in various exemplary embodiments, the above-outlined surveyingsystem is incorporated into and/or includes other geographic informationsystems (GIS) and/or software. For example, the above-outlined surveyingsystem may be incorporated into or otherwise compatible with known orlater-developed GIS software such as that available from ESRI ofRedlands, Calif.

A surveying system includes a monument with a permanent magnet and anelectronically accessible tag or memory, a magnetic locator, anelectronic reader and a server. The magnetic locator is usable toquickly locate the monument. The reader is usable to identify themonument by electronically interacting with the tag or memory. Thereader is also usable to receive information from the tag or memory. Thereader is in communication with the server. The server includes at leastone database that stores information related to the monument. The readeris usable to send the information received from the electronic tag ormemory of the monument to the server and in return receives informationrelated to the monument from the server. The reader may also be usableto add to, subtract from and/or alter the information stored in theelectronic tag or memory.

A server includes at least one database. The database includesinformation related to a geographical location or fixed asset identifiedby at least one monument. Upon receiving information identifying onesuch monument, the server outputs at least some of the informationrelated to that monument and/or the geographical location or fixed assetidentified by that monument.

While this invention has been described in conjunction with theexemplary embodiments outlined above, various alternatives,modifications, variations, improvements and/or substantial equivalents,whether known or that are or may be presently foreseen, may becomeapparent to those having at least ordinary skill in the art.Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention, as set forthabove, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changesmay be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.Therefore, the invention is intended to embrace all known or earlierdeveloped alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements and/orsubstantial equivalents.

I claim:
 1. A monument for locating stationary geographical positionsand assets comprising: a housing; at least one permanent magnet providedon the housing and having a magnetic field of sufficient strength for alocation of the at least one permanent magnet relative to a portablemagnetic locator to be readily identified from outside the housing usingthe portable magnetic locator; and at least one electronic markercoupled to a metal backing plate and provided on the housing, the atleast one electronic marker for receiving and/or transmitting one ormore radio frequency (RF) signals which include information unique to ageographical location and/or a functional property of a monument or anasset associated with the monument, wherein the at least one electronicmarker is adapted to transmit and/or receive the one or more radiofrequency (RF) signals in the presence of the magnetic field of the atleast one permanent magnet.
 2. The monument of claim 1, wherein: the atleast one permanent magnet and the at least one electronic marker areeach positioned within the housing; at least one of a body and a cap ofthe housing is formed of metal or other material resistant to thepassage of electronic frequencies, the body including at least oneopening adjacent to the at least one electronic marker for facilitatingpassage of the one or more radio frequency (RF) signals from and to theat least one electronic marker.
 3. The monument of claim 2, wherein themonument is adapted to be located below ground level and the housing isadapted to substantially prevent external physical contact with the atleast one permanent magnet and the at least one electronic marker. 4.The monument of claim 3, wherein the housing includes a breakawayportion, and wherein the at least one permanent magnet and the at leastone electronic marker and associated metal backing plate are provided inthe breakaway portion.
 5. The monument of claim 4, wherein the breakawayportion is formed of a plastic material which permits the radiofrequency (RF) signals to pass therethrough.
 6. The monument of claim 2,wherein the housing comprises a hollow-tube shaped body having opposedopenings and the at least one electronic marker is supported within thehollow tube-shaped body of the housing between the opposed openings ofthe body, and wherein the housing comprises a cover which comprises ashell conforming to an outer surface of the tube-shaped body.
 7. Themonument of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a peripheral shellformed of at least one piece of material which permits the passage ofthe radio frequency (RF) signals therethrough, and wherein the at leastone electronic marker is provided within the peripheral shell.
 8. Themonument of claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic markercomprises an RFID tag, and wherein the RFID tag is encased within aplastic body which provides a base for the housing, and wherein theplastic body encasing the RFID tag is mounted on the metal backingplate.
 9. The monument of claim 8, wherein the at least one permanentmagnet is mounted on the base provided by the plastic body encasing theRFID tag, and the cap is mounted on the RFID tag plastic body to enclosethe at least one permanent magnet.
 10. The monument of claim 1, whereinthe housing comprises a base plate, which base plate supports the atleast one permanent magnet, and a cap which is formed of plastic andmounted on the base plate to cover the at least one permanent magnet,the cap further internally supporting the at least one electronic markerand the metal backing plate.
 11. The monument of claim 10, wherein thebase plate is engaged on a projection which extends downwardly from thebase plate.
 12. The monument of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises abase plate, which base plate supports the at least one permanent magnetand the metal backing plate, and a cap formed of plastic mounted on thebase plate which cap covers the magnet, the backing plate and the atleast one electronic marker.
 13. The monument of claim 1, wherein aplastic housing cap is mounted on a top side of the metal backing plateto cover the at least one electronic marker, and the permanent magnet isattached to a bottom side of the metal backing plate.
 14. A method ofmonument location and identification comprising: perceiving a magneticfield emitted by a permanent magnet of a monument; locating the monumentbased on the perceived magnetic field; sending an electronic signal toan electronic tag of the monument, wherein the electronic tag isprovided on a metal backing plate and the electronic signal is receivedby the electronic tag in the presence of the magnetic field emitted bythe permanent magnet of the monument; receiving an electronic signaltransmitted by the electronic tag in the presence of the magnetic fieldemitted by the permanent magnet of the monument, the electronic signalreceived representing information unique to the monument. sending asignal to a server, wherein the signal sent to the server is related toat least one of the signal received from the electronic tag and theinformation unique to the monument; querying a database of the serverbased on the signal sent to the server; and receiving information fromthe server based on the query to the database.
 15. The method of claim14, wherein perceiving the magnetic field emitted by the permanentmagnet of the monument comprises probing a location with the magneticlocator until the magnetic field is detected by the magnetic locator.16. The method of claim 15, wherein identifying the location of themonument based on the perceived magnetic field comprises probing alocation with the magnetic locator until the perceived magnetic fieldreaches a maximum value.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein sending theelectronic signal to the electronic tag of the monument comprisessending a radio frequency signal to a RFID tag of the monument; andwherein receiving an electronic signal transmitted by the electronic tagcomprises receiving a radio frequency signal& from the RFID tag of themonument.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving the electronicsignal from the electronic tag of the monument comprises receiving anelectronic signal representing an identification number of the monument.19. The method of claim 18, wherein sending the signal to a servercomprises sending the identification number of the monument to theserver.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein querying the database of theserver comprises looking up one or more records stored in the databaserelated to the identification number of the monument; and whereinreceiving information from the server based on the query to the databasecomprises receiving the one or more records related to theidentification number of the monument.